Uncle Silas eBook

’I name my oppressed and unhappy brother, Silas
Ruthyn, residing at my house of Bartram-Haugh, as
guardian of the person of my beloved child, to convince
the world if possible, and failing that, to satisfy
at least all future generations of our family, that
his brother, who knew him best, had implicit confidence
in him, and that he deserved it. A cowardly and
preposterous slander, originating in political malice,
and which never have been whispered had he not been
poor and imprudent, is best silenced by this ordeal
of purification. All I possess goes to him if
my child dies under age; and the custody of her person
I commit meanwhile to him alone, knowing that she
is as safe in his as she could have been under my own
care. I rely upon your remembrance of our early
friendship to make this known wherever an opportunity
occurs, and also to say what your sense of justice
may warrant.’

The other letters were in the same spirit. My
heart sank like lead as I read them. I quaked
with fear. What had I done? My father’s
wise and noble vindication of our dishonoured name
I had presumed to frustrate. I had, like a coward,
receded from my easy share in the task; and, merciful
Heaven, I had broken my faith with the dead!

With these letters in my hand, white with fear, I
flew like a shadow to the drawing-room where Cousin
Monica was, and told her to read them. I saw by
her countenance how much alarmed she was by my looks,
but she said nothing, only read the letters hurriedly,
and then exclaimed—­

’Is this all, my dear child? I really fancied
you had found a second will, and had lost everything.
Why, my dearest Maud, we knew all this before.
We quite understood poor dear Austin’s motive.
Why are you so easily disturbed?’

’Oh, Cousin Monica, I think he was right; it
all seems quite reasonable now; and I—­oh,
what a crime!—­it must be stopped.’

’My dear Maud, listen to reason. Doctor
Bryerly has seen your uncle at Bartram at least two
hours ago. You can’t stop it, and
why on earth should you if you could? Don’t
you think your uncle should be consulted?’ said
she.

’But he has decided. I have his
letter speaking of it as settled; and Doctor Bryerly—­oh,
Cousin Monica, he’s gone to tempt him.’

’Nonsense, girl! Doctor Bryerly is a good
and just man, I do believe, and has, beside, no imaginable
motive to pervert either his conscience or his judgment.
He’s not gone to tempt him—­stuff!—­but
to unfold the facts and invite his consideration;
and I say, considering how thoughtlessly such duties
are often undertaken, and how long Silas has been living
in lazy solitude, shut out from the world, and unused
to discuss anything, I do think it only conscientious
and honourable that he should have a fair and distinct
view of the matter in all its bearings submitted to
him before he indolently incurs what may prove the
worst danger he was ever involved in.’